It’s Time to Wake the Baby

Wake up Baby

Wake up my baby, its time to get up, time for school. Hi everyone, that’s right! Mayah is going to school. It’s been a year since my last blog and let’s just say Mayah took a well-needed nap and is now ready to wake up and make her mark in this world.

Over the last year we focused a lot on speech therapy, behavior therapy and occupational therapy. I might not have had access to take her to a PhD in the field, but we did it ‘Momma style’, tons and tons of hours researching and implementing ideas to better help her to grow in the areas she needed the most help in.  You should see my house; it’s been turned into a living machine dedicated to helping Mayah grow. If you know me, you know that I might tend to overdo things a tad when I’m focusing on a goal. All the doors, walls and appliances in my home have multiple purposes- protect, entertain, teach and learn. Teaching a child with very limited attention span was a bit challenging at first but we found ways to keep her engaged enough to complete given tasks. The work we put in has been very, very hard and tiring at times, but as a result, Mayah has grown so much and keeps shocking me with the new skills she gains every day. As I reflect over the past year from start to finish, it’s been a really rewarding journey on the home school bus.

All Aboard The big school bus

It’s now time to park that bus and hop on another one because this journey isn’t over at all.  I cannot deny there was one thing missing that Mayah needed and asked for- friends. We all know a road trip is better with friends, right? Someone to interact with, whether you laugh or fight, it’s a learning experience we all need growing up. This year we decided it’s time for Mayah to go to school. A new SPED class opened up at a school near by with 2 amazing teachers in the driver’s seat. Mayah can now continue her road trip without mommy holding her hand.

First Day of School

I’m not the one going to school but for some reason I’m the one with all the jitters and butterflies, thinking about what the first day will be like.  The night before, I set my alarm for 6 am but, of course, in true ‘Jaarness’ I woke up an hour before my alarm and started running around the house like a headless chicken. I wanted the day to be nothing but perfection for Mayah whom I assume would have a hard time missing me and all. I made waffles with Nutella and cheese and a cup of warm mint tea, one of Mayah’s favorites. I got myself ready then woke Mayah up. Wake up my baby, it’s time to get up, time for school. OH! you should have seen the excitement on her face, like finally the day is here. So, we started our new daily routine, potty, breakfast, brush teeth, get dressed, a million pictures, then off to school.

Strapped into her booster seat and mama’s sunshades on, we hit the road and got to school in 8 minutes. One last gulp, then we walked into the school yard. I don’t know why I assumed that Mayah would be a little hesitant being handed off to total strangers, but nope, she marched into that classroom bright eyed with a big smile on her face. She didn’t even stop to turn around and check if I was there. Now here I am standing alone at the door like a dodo bird. I asked the teacher a really stupid question, “Ummmmm, am I supposed to wait in a certain area,Miss”? The teacher looks at me surprised like, “wait for what?” Haha jokes on me. Teacher sent me packing. So, I, coffee in hand and the cheesy waffles in my purse drove home.      

Fairy Tale Expectations

 For the first time in 6 years, I’m home alone for breakfast. No worries, I kept the phone close by still expecting the teacher to call and say Mayah is too energetic please come for her, but no the entire morning passed without a peep.  At the end of her school day, I’m definitely expecting a little more drama now because a day without momma must have been dreadful, right? I stand at the door as the teacher announces “Mayah your mom is here”. I was utterly shocked at her reaction; Mayah looks at me and turns away like I don’t know her. So, the teacher said I needed to go get her because she doesn’t want to go. I had imagined it real fairy tale style. Mayah and I would run into each other’s arms and I would swing her around and give her tons of kisses, telling her how much I missed her, lol. But reality was a kicker. As I walked over to her and said, “Hi my love its time to go”, she ran away crying, “NO NO NO NO NO” . So the bribing began, but nothing could sway her. So I had to pick her up crying and bawling all the way to the car. This went on for 3 days, but by the end of the week she learned the art of negotiation and earned herself some strawberry ice cream.

Crisis Averted

The first school week ended very well. By the afternoon Mayah was curled up fast asleep in the hammock. A fun week knocked her out. This morning I thought I’d let her sleep in a little later than 7am since it’s the weekend and all. Or maybe it’s me that needed to catch up on some zzz’s and take some extra time for a second cup of coffee this morning. There I was mentally prepping for what today may be, and out popped Mayah from the bedroom looking like she just missed her flight, eyes wide open she screamed out, “Time for breakfast, go to school”. OK, so how am I going to break the news to her that there is no school for the next 3 days? She might think she is being punished or something. Dennis and I look at each other like are you going to tell her? We just played it cool like nada. It’s a good thing I had breakfast ready. Mayah sat down and filled her face with beans and fried jacks. The topic of school never came up again, she just started playing with toys. Crisis averted, FOR NOW.